NUI Galway are organising a series of events to mark the fourth annual College Awareness Week, which takes place from 19-24 November. The campaign promotes the benefits of a post-secondary plan that supports students to become college ready and also showcases local role models. College Awareness Week aims to inspire and inform all students about the importance of having a post-secondary education plan. It advocates for students to have the choice to pursue the course best suited to their interests, abilities and dreams, whether that is a PLC qualification, an apprenticeship or a university degree. To celebrate the initiative, NUI Galway is teaming up with Archbishop McHale College, Tuam, Co. Galway, to launch the ‘Attract-Transition-Succeed’ project, which is a partnership between the University’s Access Programmes, Techinnovate Centre and the James Hardiman Library. The partnership will help build on the role of the NUI Galway Access programmes in developing educational models that will support and facilitate under-represented student groups, teachers, families, and communities to access and participate and succeed at third-level. Owen Mac an Bhaird, NUI Galway student teacher at Archbishop McHale College said: “We are delighted to be part of a nationwide campaign to promote the importance of post-secondary education. There are lots of options out there and College Awareness Week encourages people of all ages to consider further education as part of their future.” In addition to this launch, NUI Galway together with professional services firm Grant Thornton, are launching a mentoring programme called Professional Engagement Module, which will give students the opportunity to gain exposure to the professional environment, develop career skills and increase their career readiness. It is the combination of mentoring, time spent in the Grant Thornton offices, and workshops that combine to give the students self-belief around progression in education and in planning for their careers. Other events taking place during College Awareness Week will include: Talks from the University’s course coordinators to students in Further Education colleges studying QQI Level 6 courses about the pathway of progression to third-level. The launch of the 1916 Bursary Fund and Inclusive Centenaries Scholarships targeting students in the community who have the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education but who, for a variety of social and economic reasons, are under-represented at third level. The University will celebrate the Access programmes during their Annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 22 November, and during the ceremony will officially launch the 20th anniversary of the Access Programmes in Galway which will take place next year. For more information on College Awareness Week visit www.collegeaware.ie. -Ends-

Dr Clare O’Leary, Phelim Murphy, Bernie O’Connor, Martin Hayes Over 1,800 students will graduate from across the five colleges at NUI Galway at the University's winter conferring ceremonies, which take place from Tuesday, 20 November to Thursday, 22 November. NUI Galway has also today announced the names of those to be conferred with Honorary Degrees at the 2018 Winter Conferring. The four individuals to be conferred during the week of 19 November are:  Dr Clare Murphy - Consultant Gastroenterologist and an accomplished adventurer with a special interest in high altitude and expedition medicine Phelim Murphy – long serving GAA county and club administrator Bernie O’Connor - long serving GAA county and club administrator Martin Hayes - internationally-recognised traditional Irish musician Speaking on the announcement, NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and those being honoured at these conferring ceremonies form a particularly distinguished group. Each one has made an outstanding and distinctive contribution in their field. In honouring these exceptional individuals, we signal what we value in areas that matter to us and to our society – the role of sport and volunteering in rural communities, creativity and music, path-breaking women in sport. NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise these exceptional individuals.  Their achievements speak to some of the activities in which we as a University are engaged – community development, culture and performance, and sporting endeavour. On behalf of NUI Galway I am delighted to honour them and their achievements in this way.” Dr Clare O’Leary – Irish gastroenterologist, mountain climber and adventurer. First Irish woman to climb Mount Everest and complete the Seven Summits. Also first Irish woman to reach the South Pole. Patron of Cork University Hospital Charity. Works as a gastroenterologist and general physician. Phelim Murphy and Bernie O’Connor - Both synonymous with Galway hurling for many decades, at Club and County level and pivotal figures in the development of the GAA.  Phelim Murphy – Chairman of Turloughmore Hurling Club, and member of Galway Hurling Board for many years. Former Assistant Secretary of Galway Hurling Board, Secretary, Team Selector, President of Connacht Council, Vice-President of GAA. Bernie O’Connor – life-long GAA colleague and friend of Phelim. Member of Oranmore/Maree Club. Served at county, provincial and national level on Hurling Development, Games Administration and Management committees. Manager of Galway Senior team in 1983, team selector of All-Ireland winning teams 1980, 1987 and 1988.  Martin Hayes - Renowned Irish fiddler from Co Clare and member of the Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming. Winner of the All-Ireland fiddle competition – one of only three fiddlers to be named All-Ireland Fiddle Champion in the senior division in two consecutive years. Member of Tulla Céilí Band. Active in traditional music scene in the U.S. and internationally. Winner of many awards, including TG4 Gradam Ceoil. The conferring ceremonies will take place at 10.30am and 3pm each day. -Ends- Searmanais Bronnta Geimhridh OÉ Gaillimh agus Céimithe Oinigh An Dr Clare O’Leary, Phelim Murphy, Bernie O’Connor, Martin Hayes Bronnfar céim ar bhreis is 1,800 mac léinn as na cúig choláiste in OÉ Gaillimh ag searmanais bhronnta an gheimhridh a bheidh ar siúl san Ollscoil ó Dé Máirt, an 20 Samhain go dtí Déardaoin, an 22 Samhain. Inniu d’fhógair OÉ Gaillimh ainmneacha na ndaoine a mbronnfar Céimeanna Oinigh orthu ag Bronnadh an Fhómhair, 2018. Seo a leanas ainmneacha an cheathrair a mbronnfar céim orthu an tseachtain dar tús an 19 Samhain:  An Dr Clare Murphy - Gaistreintreolaí Comhairleach agus taiscéalaí cumasach le spéis ar leith i leigheas a bhaineann le hairde mhór agus le turais taiscéalaíochta. Phelim Murphy - a bhfuil na blianta caite aige mar riarthóir contae agus club CLG Bernie O'Connor - a bhfuil na blianta caite aige mar riarthóir contae agus club CLG Martin Hayes - ceoltóir traidisiúnta a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda air Ag labhairt dó faoin bhfógra, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá an t-ádh le OÉ Gaillimh céimithe oinigh den scoth a bheith aige in imeacht na mblianta agus is cinnte gur grúpa ar leith iad na céimithe oinigh atá á gceiliúradh ag na searmanais bhronnta seo. Tá a c(h)ion féin déanta ag gach céimí oinigh daoibh ina réimse féin. Trí onóir a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo, léirímid na luachanna atá againn i réimsí a bhfuil tábhacht leo dúinne agus don tsochaí ina mairimid - ról an spóirt i bpobail tuaithe, cruthaitheacht agus ceol, mná ceannródaíocha i spórt. Tá an-áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo. Léiríonn a gcuid éachtaí roinnt de na gníomhaíochtaí ina bhfuilimid mar Ollscoil páirteach iontu – forbairt pobail, cultúr agus taibhléiriú, agus éachtaí spóirt. Thar ceann OÉ Gaillimh tá áthas orm onóir a bhronnadh orthu as a gcuid éachtaí.” An Dr Clare O’Leary – gaistreintreolaí, dreapadóir sléibhe agus taiscéalaí Éireannach.  An chéad bhean Éireannach a dhreap Sliabh Everest agus na Seacht Mullach.  Ba í an chéad bhean Éireannach í chomh maith a bhain amach an Pol Theas. Tá sí ina pátrún ar Charthanacht Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Corcaigh. Is gaistreintreolaí agus lia ginearálta í. Phelim Murphy agus Bernie O'Connor - Tá an bheirt fhear seo luaite le hiománaíocht na Gaillimhe le blianta fada, ag leibhéal Club agus Contae, agus is pearsana an-tábhachtach iad i bhforbairt an CLG.  Phelim Murphy – Cathaoirleach Chlub Iománaíochta an Turlaigh Mhóir agus ball de Bhord Iománaíochta na Gaillimhe le blianta fada.  Iar-Rúnaí Cúnta ar Bhord Iománaíochta na Gaillimhe, Rúnaí, Roghnóir, Uachtarán Chomhairle Connacht, Leas-Uachtarán CLG. Bernie O’Connor – comhghleacaí GLG agus cara buan le Phelim.  Ball de Chlub Órán Mór/Mheáraí.  D’oibrigh sé ar leibhéal contae, cúige agus náisiúnta ar Fhorbairt Iománaíochta, Riarachán Cluichí agus Coistí Bainistíochta.  Bainisteoir ar Fhoireann Sinsir na Gaillimhe in 1983, roghnóir ar na foirne a bhuaigh Craobh na hÉireann in 1980, 1987 agus 1988.  Martin Hayes - Fidléir Éireannach mór le rá as Co. an Chláir agus ball den sárghrúpa Gael-Meiriceánach The Gloaming. Buaiteoir Chraobh na hÉireann ar an bhfidil – duine de thriúr fidléirí a ainmníodh mar Sheaimpín na hÉireann ar an bhfidil sa rannóg shinsearach dhá bhliain as a chéile. Ball de Bhanna Céilí na Tulaí. Gníomhach i saol an cheoil thraidisiúnta i Meiriceá agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Is iomaí gradam atá buaite aige, lena n-áirítear Gradam Ceoil TG4. Beidh na searmanais bhronnta ar siúl ag 10.30am agus ag 3pm gach lá. -Críoch-

As part of National Science Week Ireland, NUI Galway’s O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance will host the free event NanoDance, exploring the science of the very small through dance theatre on 15-16 November at 6pm. Explore the world of nanoscience with dance and theatre! This multimedia production will examine the science of the very small through choreography, lighting and projections devised by visiting artist Deidre Cavazzi, Dance Department Chair, Saddleback College. The performance will be preceded by a short Nanoscience talk by Dr Jessamyn Fairfield from the School of Physics at NUI Galway. Eight performers, current and alumni students of NUI Galway, will take to the stage, bringing to life concepts like quantum confinement, wave/particle duality, and the relationship between frequencies and memristors.  This production provides a fun and creative way to merge scientific concepts with multimedia performance. Choreographer Deidre Cavazzi, a visiting fellow from Southern California, specialises in designing interdisciplinary productions to explore scientific concepts through live performances.  Deidre Cavazzi, said: “It has been exciting to work with NUI Galway and Dr Fairfield’s lab to develop this project. I hope to create an immersive and interesting environment for audiences to learn more about nanoscience while also enjoying a theatrical performance.” This work is supported by the Institute of Physics and Galway Science and Technology Festival. Performance will be approximately 75 minutes with no intermission, and is appropriate for all ages. Admission is free and pre-booking of tickets is advised by visiting www.eventbrite.ie and type in Nanodance, or visit: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/nanodance-tickets-52221724584.  To view videos from recent interdisciplinary productions, please visit Deidre Cavazzi’s ArchiTexture Dance Company website: http://www.architexturedance.org/interdisciplinary-projects.html. -Ends-